We recently had our first experience promoting a Kickstarter campaign using Facebook and Twitter – and we’re happy to say that after 29 days, the BikeSpike received funding! The day that Kickstarter ended, we had another client, Clevermind, begin their Kickstarter. Hosting a Kickstarter campaign without a social media plan is like startup suicide. Here are a few things we’d like to share with you about the process:
1. Create a social presence BEFORE launching your campaign. If you don’t want competitors to catch on to your idea, create a page that isn’t all about your product but about the industry you are trying to enter. It’s better to build an audience beforehand, so you can announce your launch with a captive audience.
2. Facebook ads are absolutely necessary. We were able to grow a page from zero (on start date) to over 1,200 by the time the 29 day campaign ended. Facebook ads allow you to reach out to your exact market, targeting those who like certain brand pages, live in certain areas, are a specific age or gender and so much more.
3. Utilize Twitter to monitor keywords. Twitter is one of the greatest tools of a Kickstarter campaign, if used correctly. After someone backs your project, they have the option of sharing their contribution on Twitter. Make sure you have streams saved to thank these people, and anyone else talking about your product. Twitter is the best and easiest way to spark conversations, take advantage.
4. Use Linkedin to join groups. For some campaigns, it makes sense to join Linkedin groups to reach a more business-related and educated audience. Starting conversations and gently working in a link to your campaign is a great way to increase funding.
5. Make the most of any and all media coverage. The media is your friend. Thank them, mention them, and keep sharing the link to the media coverage on all of your networks.
6. Get the creators of the company/project talking about the campaign. Friends, family and colleagues of the actual project creators are the most likely to initially back a project and share news and updates about the campaign. Make sure the project has a voice and the creators are visible online. This is important to many backers, they like to see the founders are real and active in their industry.
7. Share Kickstarter milestones. People like to “like” these types of updates. You reached $100,000K? Great, post about it! Our favorite image we shared was when BikeSpike reached their funding goal. It was their most viral post ever.
